episode_0040

“Is that a new fruit?”

Shayella returned.

The creature, with a thick stem, looked at the pillar fruit in the center of the house with curiosity.

The Fruit of Eternal Youth.

The best fruit I can create right now.

Since Illyan called the existing fruit the Fruit of Life, I decided to name this one to signify a step further.

I’m not sure if it’s worth the name…

“I made it for you.”

If this works, maybe Shayella can be healed.

“Me, really?”

“It will take at least a month to ripen. Since I squeezed it as much as possible, it should help with your recovery.”

Chuckling.

Shayella’s lips curled up.

Whether she was touched by my sincerity, she approached with a firm voice.

“Thank you~”

“…Why are you suddenly like this?”

“Hehe~ Because it’s special.”

Tap tap.

I patted her back.

“Why are you saying that when you’re giving me chills?”

“That’s right. Of course~”

Swoosh.

Thud!

As her hand reached for my head, I immediately grabbed her wrist.

“I didn’t ask you to pet me.”

“Then~ how about this?”

Squeeze~

When I let go of her hand, she hugged my waist.

I felt a pleasant warmth from her body, which made me feel flustered.

“What, what are you doing?”

“How do you feel?”

“…It gives me chills?”

“What? Just say if you like it honestly!?”

“I did say honestly.”

“Hmph. Fine~ plant kid.”

Swish.

She let go of the hug with a curse.

What kind of reaction was she expecting…

Anyway, that’s enough of that.

“Shayella, I have one question.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve been going for walks a lot. Have you ever seen anything in the center of the Misty Forest?”

“I’ve seen a lot of strange creatures. There are so many different kinds of them coming out all the time.”

“Was there anything special?”

“Not really? It’s so vast that I need to explore more.”

“If you see anything strange, let me know. Something similar to me.”

Neria mentioned before that there seems to be another World Tree in the center.

But Shayella goes for walks to the center of the Misty Forest regularly.

I didn’t go out of curiosity, but I thought Shayella would be fine.

However, Shayella seemed uneasy in her response.

“Something similar to you? Are you looking for your kind? Oh, if you’re not a plant, then you can’t be my kind?”

“What strange talk… It’s just a guess, but there might be something similar to me in the center. I hope you can check if it’s dangerous.”

“Do you like plants by any chance?”

“Of course, I like plants. I am a plant too. But why?”

“Oh, no! I’ll look for it. I’ll find it and then…”

“…?”

“Hmm! It’s nothing.”

Shayella made an awkward cough.

From the nature of the question, it seemed like she imagined meeting with a plant and doing something strange…

She worries too much.

“Anyway, I trust you.”

“But first, a hug.”

“Yes?”

“You’re a World Tree, right?”

“World Tree… The elves call me that, but I don’t really know. I’m just going along with it. Is there a problem?”

“There was a World Tree in my world too.”

As Shayella spoke, her face darkened briefly.

Curious, you asked subtly.

“So what happened?”

“It burned and died.”

“Hey, that’s suddenly ominous.”

“Don’t worry. It won’t happen this time.”

“…?”

“Heh. Just trust the goddess~.”

Humming~

Suddenly, the creature floated into the air.

Then, touching the ceiling of the house with her hand.

“Exactly~”

She caressed where my main body was.

Once again, the golden light enveloped my body, giving a strangely comforting sensation.

“Why do you keep touching me?”

“You did it first. This is good. It’s good. Don’t worry about it.”

“….”

“Exactly~”

*Swoosh*

Ah, what a pleasant feeling.

I should be telling them not to do it, but the sensation that reaches my main body is too strong.

Reluctantly, I admit that those touches help me.

At first, I was hesitant, but I realized that the rate of growth on days when I receive those touches from them and when I don’t is quite significant.

So, I can’t push them away forcefully.

I need to become stronger.

Above all, my main body is not a clear physical form.

Therefore, touching the physical body is different from the essence. It doesn’t hurt my pride as much.

…That’s what I tell myself.

Suddenly, I found myself accepting it.

*

I organized my complicated thoughts.

In the end, the goal becomes unified.

Whether my identity is revealed.

Whether I fight against the city.

Whatever happens.

I just need to become stronger. If I crush them with a stronger force, that’s all.

…If it’s possible.

There are at least dozens of beings like Kardephion.

Surely, there are beings much stronger than Kardephion, and the strength of the city’s owner is unpredictable.

I have clarified my goal.

Not only for myself but also for the elves.

I need to gather enough power to handle multiple rulers even without Shaela.

Therefore.

*Flowing sound*

I moved the stem to create a giant fruit.

If I modify the physical body by containing the characteristics of life, I will surely be able to become stronger quickly.

I have some idea.

Alberto.

Volpir.

Kardephion.

Each was created in a different way, and that method seemed like a map I didn’t know.

To put it bluntly….

“Biological map.”

I need to research that.

Fortunately, the characteristics and structure of the life forms I absorbed are all stored in my main body. I need to create a perfect physical body by combining the unique characteristics of various races or life forms.

Let’s create the ultimate physical body.

Right now.

*

104th day in the Misty Forest.

Zzweok!~

A modified body was born.

But the result was disastrous.

“Moochan… What is this?”

“I don’t know. It’s better not to know.”

Shaela looked at me with a very displeased face at the sight of the new modified body that emerged from the fruit.

Even with the goggles on, the grotesque appearance of the new body was visible.

Well… it’s a bit bizarre.

Another arm where wings should be.

Elf ears where horns should be.

And reproductive organs where a tail should be.

A chimera was created.

“G-Gross.”

Even the great Shaela trembled and stepped back.

She probably knew what kind of look I was giving her beyond the goggles.

In short, the modified body failed miserably.

It didn’t mix properly, and the appearance was endlessly grotesque.

*Flowing sound*

In the end, it was buried in the ground and reabsorbed.

Thanks to that, I realized.

This research requires time. There will be many trial and errors in the future.

That’s the problem.

Time is not on my side.

The completion of the Bulloga.

Researching the biological map.

Strengthening the village’s power.

All of these require a lot of time, while hunters can attack at any time.

And there’s Yian from the slave combination.

She knows my true identity.

Although she seems to be pretending not to know, it’s unsettling.

There must be a hidden agenda.

I hesitate.

Should I continue this research?

Or should I move?

I need some certainty.

To make a proper decision….

“I should meet her after all.”

Yian.

*

“Cecilia.”

“Have you come, master!”

I embraced the body of Kardephion.

Cecilia, who was guarding the bed, welcomed me with a joyful expression.

By the way, she has become the overseer of all the slaves in the palace.

With a single command, everything was accomplished without much difficulty. He was the only one who could move freely in and out of the bedchamber, and he could manage the mansion.

In fact, it was safe to say that he was the de facto owner of this place.

In simple terms, he had made a meteoric rise.

“Nothing happened while I was resting?”

“No. The slaves wanted to see the master, but I sent them all away.”

“Why me?”

“Perhaps they desired your body? They must have wanted to serve you in the middle of the night.”

“…Well, you did the right thing by sending them away.”

“Hehe. Thank you!”

Swoosh.

He immediately got up.

After waiting for a few days, it seemed that the guy named Ian did not suspect that I was a fake Cardapion. He didn’t show any signs of suspicion.

In other words, if he had any questions, it was safe to assume that he genuinely wanted me to come to him.

“Get ready. I’m going to meet Ian.”

“Are you going to the assembly directly?”

“That would be faster.”

“I will prepare!”

Moving was not difficult.

By using the teleportation device in the bed, he could immediately move to the assembly building.

Shooosh!!

Pop!~

“Welcome. May I ask what brings you here?”

As soon as he moved with Cecilia, a woman who looked like a slave politely greeted them.

“I came to meet Ian.”

“Yes, I will guide you.”

He followed the woman.

He entered a neatly arranged room and sat on a soft and comfortable chair.

There was no sense of danger around him.

There was no particular discomfort.

There probably wouldn’t be much conversation.

With Cecilia by his side, he waited for Ian to arrive.

It didn’t take long for the door to open.

Swoosh~

“You have arrived. I have been waiting.”

The guy kneeled and greeted as he did last time. Skipping the greeting, I gestured for him to sit across from me.

Nodding.

Understanding the gesture, he politely sat on the chair and faced me.

Strangely, there was no sign of discomfort as there was last time. It was as if he was welcoming someone other than Cardapion.

What kind of game was he playing?

Why did he hide my identity?

Without hesitation, I asked directly.

“You were waiting for me, did you know I was coming?”

“I’m not sure what you mean. I just welcomed you.”

“Then let me ask something else. When we talked last time, you asked if I knew your name. I said I didn’t know.”

“…Is there a problem?”

It seemed like he was trying to hide something.

If he knew that I was a fake, there must be a reason for hiding it.

I had to uncover it.

“Do you not find it strange?”

“I find it strange, but I am just a member of the assembly. I don’t think it’s strange that you don’t know my name.”

“Really?”

“…Yes.”

His reaction was slightly hesitant.

But it was not enough to be certain.

To distinguish between acting and sincerity, I needed a more definite clue.

To sum it up.

I had two main choices.

First.

To find out his intentions clearly, even if my identity was revealed.

Second.

Since he seemed to have no intention of exposing my identity, I could pretend not to know and gather information.

Rationally, the second option was more advantageous for me.

But I was worried about being caught off guard if he had other intentions.

Above all, if there was someone hiding the truth, there must be room for negotiation.

I chose to confront him directly.

“I am not Cardapion.”

“….”

Ian’s face stiffened slightly.

With that reaction, I was sure.

“You’re not very surprised?”

“…Why are you saying that?”

“You act like you know, but you pretend not to. It’s a bit suspicious to let it go like this.”

His eyes darted around anxiously.

He seemed to be full of confusion, not knowing that I would openly reveal my identity, and there was a look of bewilderment.

What would happen next?

Would he attack me?

Would he engage in conversation?

Or would he run away?

You must choose wisely.

If they come at me aggressively, I’ll kill them without hesitation. After all, as a ruler, I can justify killing a member of the organization and move on from this situation.

Even if that’s not the case, it doesn’t matter.

It’s just a disposable clone.

I can easily risk my life.

No matter what, I have the upper hand.

“You’re reckless.”

However, the unexpected response came.

Despite his tense appearance, he calmly spoke.

“If you’re going to hide your identity, do it properly. You have a slave next to you, don’t you?”

His eyes showed a hint of fierceness, unlike before.

But…

What’s the point of giving advice in this situation?

Do they understand that my life is in danger?

I continued the conversation.

“Cecilia is on my side, so it doesn’t matter. Besides, look. You knew I was a fake. It wasn’t a good choice for me to keep hiding it.”

“Still, wouldn’t it have been better to pretend not to know? I didn’t tell anyone.”

“Instead, there must have been another spy.”

“Are you willing to take such a risk?”

“Don’t worry. I don’t care if I die. If you understand, save your own life. I’m always ready to kill you.”

“…There’s nothing good about killing you.”

He accepted it calmly, but his eyes flickered at the mention of being able to kill.

There was no hostility or sign of fleeing.

I continued the conversation.

“Let me ask one thing. Why did you pretend not to know even though you knew I was fake? You’re a member of this organization. Did you just not want to get involved?”

He didn’t answer and just slightly lowered his head.

It seemed like he was struggling with how to handle the situation, but it wasn’t easily resolved.

I waited a bit.

Maybe another 5 seconds passed.

Then, he stood up from his seat.

“Guide me to your palace. It’s strange for a ruler to stay in the organization for too long. This is not the place to discuss this.”

Surprisingly swift and smooth progress.

It doesn’t hurt me. He stood up as he wished.

Swoosh.

“Exactly.”

“I was invited here. Please adjust your words to that later.”

“If you’re cooperative, that’s enough.”

Shooom!!

Pop!!-

We teleported with him using the teleportation device.

Thus, I returned to Cardelphion’s chamber with Ian and Cecilia.

Now it’s time for a real conversation.